2. Start with the biggest guide attachment. Do the upper parts of your hair with this and BE CAREFUL NOT TO PRESS TOO HARD, OR YOU WILL KNOCK THE GUIDE OFF AND GIVE YOURSELF A GIANT "OOPS." Gradually change to smaller guides as you go around your head until you achieve the desired length.

3. Barter with a friend who will trim your hair in exchange for a barter item.

Started using a razor comb. Between that and a trim scissors, I haven’t been to the barber in three years. Not real hard to do and when I cut it, I leave enough so that it still lies in place. Side benefit is that I trim it a little each week so I never look scalped.

Put one of these on your head... And then cut (with scissors or buzz cutters) around the edge of the bowl...

And then you look like this guy!!!! I hear this particular kind of haircut is popular in Liechtenstein, Transylvania, and in the more remote regions of Outer Mongolia. I think there may be a order of monks on the Isle of Zanzibar that find it quite humbling.

26
posted on 10/03/2011 8:19:26 PM PDT
by Jack Hydrazine
(It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine!)

I’ve been doing my own crew cut for about 5 years now. I have a double cow lick that grows very fast and in 2 week I look like the Klingon Worf.

I use a #2 attachment and go around the ears. Next I do my neck (upwards as against the grain will be shorter). Then left to right (all the way). Then right to left. Front to back. And finally back to front. I do the outside on my back deck without a mirror. Final step needs a mirror and that requires taking off the attachment and trimming around the ears.

Get a trimmer with the various length combs and go buzz cut. A 1/4 inch works very well. 1/2 inch is too long. I don’t cut my own hair but that’s how I waste money at the barber keeping the economy going. They are good to bs with too. My wife could easily cut it but I don’t bother. I learned years ago in basic that a crew cut is a big time saver and a potential DIYer.

33
posted on 10/03/2011 8:23:58 PM PDT
by apoliticalone
(Honest govt. that operates in the interest of US sovereignty and the people, not global $$$)

Yes, I have been cutting my own hair with electric clippers for about a year now.

First I use #2 guide all over...front to back, then back to front, then side to side. Use two mirrors to see it all; you will probably find that you need several passes in each direction to get it all even, at least at first. Next I switch to #1 guide to get just the sides of my head, going "against the grain". Blending the edges comes with practice.

For the back of the neck I take a piece of masking tape, and put it so that the bottom edge is where I want the bottom of my hairline to be. While facing the mirror, I hold both ends so that they are level, then I tape the ends to my ears. Trim the back of the neck using just the clippers (no guide.)

Finally I use the masking tape all over my head like a tackcloth to help remove any remaining loose hair fragments that didn't get brushed off, then wash. Pretty easy once you get used to it. Hope this helps.

In the late seventies, after going to a stylist (used to be my barber shop, but they added pastel colors) and getting a bad haircut despite having told him how I wanted it, I decided that I could give myself a bad haircut for free.

For thirty years I cut my hair immediately after washing. I combed it all forward and cut the hair off my face. I then pulled the hair up in bunches and cut it to match that length. The only tough part was the back which I had to do strictly by feel. At the neckline, I took a piece of tape about two feet long and held it level behind my head, brought it forward and fastened to my face. With the scissors, I cut the hair that stuck out under the tape then shave my neck with the tape still in place. It would be easier if I liked a "high and tight" but I discovered in the Marine Corps I have a funny shaped skull.

A few years ago, I bought a an electric hair cutter with several comb-like attachment. I start on top with the longest toothed one and reduce the attachment size as I work downward. I still use the tape on the back.

I gave myself haircuts for about 10 or 12 years. I quit when I moved to a warmer climate and started wearing much shorter hair. I actually had people wanting to know the name of my barber so they could use him. So I got pretty good at it. I used hair scissors (no clippers) and the trick is to start with a good haircut and then keep it trimmed by taking off only a small amount every week.

When you get your starting haircut, run your fingers through it and get to learn how long it is in different places. The next week run your fingers through your hair and pull up a bit of it between your middle and index fingers and clip off a quarter inch or so. Use your fingers to keep the cut even. I moved front to back and then did the sides and finished up at the back, which is where you want to take your time. Trim up the neckline with the scissors and a razor. If you want a taper in the back, you will probably need to use clippers and just run the clippers through it with a guard always going down. If you block the neckline, you don’t need clippers. About once a month, run thinning shears through your hair.

When you think you are done, run a comb through it and lift up or use your fingers and lift and you will find some places where you missed. You will need a hands free adjustable mirror so you can see what your doing from the back. Don’t rush. It gets easy about the third time you do it. If you wear a mullet, you don’t have to worry about the back. LOL.

Now, I always cut my own hair with electric clippers and the best part is that you can get a haircut once a week (or more) for free. I can remember my first time and I’ll tell you the same thing my buddy told me: “It’s easier than you think. Just try it. Worst case, you go to a barber and get it fixed.” (Or don’t get it fixed! It’ll grow out! Go camping for a few days!) Well, it worked that first time and I never had to “get it fixed.” It would help to have someone who knows what he’s doing nearby the first time. As of yet, I have never cut any shoter than the attachments allowed, they work great. Go for it!

My son (17.5) got annoyed that he didn’t have the time and money to have a haircut so he borrowed my horse’s clippers and did it himself. He actually did a really nice job. Now that he’s gotten the hang of it it looks quite good. He used the big attachments first and worked his way down to the smaller ones.

It is not difficult to trim your own hair. I started doing it to save time driving to barber shop, waiting in line, and afraid of catching dandruff and other infections from barber’s tools which are not sanitized between uses. Been doing it for 40+ years. My wife can not do it any better than doing it myself so I am self reliant here hehe.

1. Get a good electric hair clipping kit, do not skimp. You will save a lot of money on barber shops and a good kit will last 10 years easy with regular oiling which comes with a good kit. So why skimp on the kit.

2. Wash your hair with shampoo and dry thoroughly, giving another additional hour to air dry. This will result in a better looking haircut. Oily & sticky hair will result in uneven depth of hair. Comb your hair normally.

3. Start with the biggest attachment. Do not push down hard on the clipper since the attachment can come lose and make a bald swath on your head. Move the clipper in the direction you normally comb. After every few strokes, run comb in your hair in the same direction. My hair looks much better when I avoid going in the opposite direction of my normal combing direction. The biggest attachment should be used on entire head. In the side burn and above neck area only, also make horizontal trimming moves.

4. Switch to next smaller attachment. This time focus only side burns and above neck areas. First move in down direction, then run comb in you normal combing pattern. Finish by making a few horizontal moves.

5. Switch to smallest attachment. Limit cutting just to below top of ears in side burns area and same length area above neck. Make similar moves as step 4.

6. Remove all attachments. Trim length of side burns holding the clipper perpendicular to your scalp. Then place your 4 left hand fingers together horizontally on top of your neck. Thumb will be folded inside and below your fingers. Then holding the trimmer perpendicular to your skin, carefully trim any hair growing below your fingers.

7. The hair trimming takes barely 15 minutes for me, and I have better results if I do not go too long between trims. No more than 10 days for me. Depending on how fast your hair grows, adjust your intervals.

8. Welcome to the select group of less than 1% of male population who can trim their own hair.

Note if your hair is very fine and limp, you may need an alternate plan. I have basically straight and fairly coarse hair.

Wash and dry your hair so it stands erect nicely. Start with a #3 (3/8") clipper shield and go over your entire head multiple times until you are cutting no hair. Drop down to a #2 and to the same thing on the sides and back. Then drop down to a #1 and do some edging the same way.

My dad was a barber, and to him the neck is the most critical area. You can almost always tell when somebody cuts their own hair because the back of the neck looks like hell. Edge the bottom half-inch of the back of the neck using a mustache trimmer (just a miniature clipper) with the lowest shield. Finish off by shaving the back of your neck below the hairline. Use a hand mirror with your bathroom mirror to make sure the neckline is clean.

And don't try to fix any spots you messed up. You'll only make them worse. In two days the hair will grow enough that it doesn't matter anyway.

So easy, even a cav... eh, never mind.
It’s really easy. been doing it for years. I use a Whal trimmer, with #1 guide for head, and #2 for beard.
As mentioned before, go at it from several directions (front to back & side to side)and then feel for any spikes or long hairs.
Now, the tape trick for the neck, sounds really cool! Never thought about it, just did it by feel.

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